Unless noted otherwise, all definitions are taken from either the Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition (1989) with Additions Series Volumes 1-3 (1997), or Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, (2002) (aka, the 'hernia edition') and are correspondingly labeled.

accept, verb

OED

gen. To take or receive what is offered. Hence,

1aTo take or receive (a thing offered) willingly, or with consenting mind; to receive (a thing or person) with favour or approval, e.g. to receive as a prospective husband. Also, to take or receive with patience or resignation, to tolerate.

bOf a female animal: to permit (copulation).

2to accept the person or face of: To receive any one's advances with favour, to treat him as a persōna grāta, to favour him (esp. on corrupt grounds, as personal attractions, rank, influence, power to bribe). Hence to accept persons: To show (corrupt) partiality or favouritism.

3aTo receive as sufficient or adequate; hence, to admit, agree to, believe.

bLaw. to accept service of a writ: to agree to consider as valid its informal delivery.

4To take formally (what is offered) with contemplation of its consequences and obligations; to take upon oneself, to undertake as a responsibility.

In the preceding senses accept is frequently followed by of.

5aComm. To accept a bill or draft (said of the person to whom the bill or letter of exchange is addressed, or one who takes his place, or accepts ‘for the honour’ of the drawer or endorser): to acknowledge formally its receipt or presentation, and undertake the liability or obligation to meet it when due; to agree or promise to pay.

babsol.

Webster's

1obsolete : to treat with partiality or favoritism

2ato receive with consent (something given or offered) : assent to the receipt of

bto be able to take or hold or be designed to take or hold (something applied, affixed, or impressed)

3to give admittance to (as into one's company or into a particular group) : give approval to

4ato take without protest : endure or tolerate with patience

bto regard as proper, suitable, or normal : acknowledge or recognize as appropriate, permissible, or inevitable : agree to

cto regard and hold as true : believe in

dto receive into the mind : UNDERSTAND

5ato make an affirmative or favorable response to (as an invitation or offer) : undertake the responsibility of (as a task or employment)

bto allow (a train) onto the particular section of a line under local control — used of a block operator in the manual block-signal system

6to assume orally, in writing, or by conduct an obligation to pay

7of a deliberative body : to receive (a report) officially (as from a committee)

8to be sexually responsive to; especially : to allow to mount and copulate — usually used of a female domestic mammal

intransitive verb

to receive favorably something offered — usually used with of

agnostic, noun (and adjective)

OED

Anoun One who holds that the existence of anything beyond and behind material phenomena is unknown and (so far as can be judged) unknowable, and especially that a First Cause and an unseen world are subjects of which we know nothing.

[Suggested by Prof. Huxley at a party held previous to the formation of the now defunct Metaphysical Society, at Mr. James Knowles's house on Clapham Common, one evening in 1869, in my hearing. He took it from St. Paul's mention of the altar to 'the Unknown God.'' R. H. Hutton in letter 13 Mar. 1881.]

Badjective Of or pertaining to agnostics or their theory.

Webster's

: one who professes agnosticism; broadly : one who maintains a continuing doubt about the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimates <agnostic ... came into my head as suggestively antithetic to the gnostic of church history who professed to know so much — T.H.Huxley>

atheism, noun

OED

Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a God. Also, Disregard of duty to God, godlessness (practical atheism).

Webster's

1adisbelief in the existence of God or any other deity

1bthe doctrine that there is neither God nor any other deity

2godlessness especially in conduct : UNGODLINESS, WICKEDNESS

atheist, noun (and adjective)

OED

Anoun

1One who denies or disbelieves the existence of a God.

2One who practically denies the existence of a God by disregard of moral obligation to Him; a godless man.

Battributively as adjective Atheistic, impious.

Webster's

: one who subscribes to, advocates, or practices atheism

female, adjective (and noun)

OED

Aadjective

I. Belonging to the sex which bears offspring.

1aof human beings. In Law: heir, line female. Also predicatively.

bof animals; often = she-.

2transf. of plants, trees:

aWhen the sex is attributed only from some accident of habit, colour, etc.; sometimes after L. femina. spec. female fern = lady-fern.

besp. in female hemp = fimble-hemp: see fimble n.

cOf the parts of a plant: Fruit-bearing; resulting in a new individual.

dOf a blossom or flower: Having a pistil and no stamens; pistillate; fruit-bearing.

II. Of or pertaining to those of this sex.

3Composed or consisting of women, or of female animals or plants.

4aOf or pertaining to a woman or women.

bEngaged in or exercised by women.

5Peculiar to or characteristic of womankind.

†6Womanish; effeminate; weakly. Obs.

III. Applied to various material and immaterial things, denoting simplicity, inferiority, weakness or the like.

†7aSimple; plain, undisguised. b.A.III.7.b Inferior.

8Said of the inner layer of horn on a horse's foot, or of bark on a tree.

9Said of precious stones, on account of paleness or other accident of colour. Cf. 2a.

†10afemale rime: = feminine rime; see feminine.

bMus. female cadence, -close (see quot. 1954). Cf. feminine a. 6b, quot. 1844.

IV.

11aA distinctive term for that part of an instrument or contrivance which is adapted to receive the corresponding or male part.

b(See quot.)

c‘female gauge, an internal or bored gauge’ (Lockwood 1888); ‘female joint, the socket or faucet-piece of a spigot-and-faucet joint’ (Ogilv.); female screw, socket, a circular hole or socket having a spiral thread adapted to receive the thread of the male screw.

Bnoun

1A female animal:

aof lower animals. Often in his female: his mate.

bgenerally, including the human species.

2A female person; a woman or girl.

aIn express or consciously implied antithesis with male; esp. one of the female individuals in any class or enumeration comprising persons of both sexes.

bAs a mere synonym for ‘woman’. Freq. in phr. the female of the species. The simple use is now commonly avoided by good writers, exc. with contemptuous implication.

3attrib., as female-bar, -determiner, -determining, -foe; female-bane, transl. of Gr. θηλυϕόνον aconite. lit. ‘a thing deadly to females’; female circumcision = clitoridectomy; female impersonation, the personating of a female by a male on the stage; hence female (im)personator; female pill, any preparation intended as an abortifacient.

Webster's

Anoun

1an individual that bears young or produces eggs as distinguished from one that begets young: as

aa female animal

ba woman or girl as distinguished from a man or boy

2WOMAN — now usually used disparagingly

3a pistillate plant

Badjective

1aof, by, for, or being the sex that bears young or a member of that sex: as (1) being a woman or girl or composed of members of the female sex : WOMAN (2) belonging to, peculiar to, or characteristic of a woman (3) engaged in or exercised by women

bexhibiting femaleness; specifically : producing or capable of producing eggs — symbol ♀

2ahaving some quality (as passiveness, gentleness, delicacy of color or sound, highness of pitch) associated with the female sex

b(1) designed with a hollow into which a corresponding male part fits (2) faced with a character in intaglio

3FEMININE 4

4of a dialect or speech form : normally used only by women or by men speaking to women

5of, associated with, or being the material, receptive, or productive principle of the cosmos — compare YIN

feminine, adjective (and noun)

OED

Webster's

found, verb

OED

verb2

1atrans. To lay the base or substructure of (a building, etc.); to set, fix, or build on a firm ground or base. (Sometimes used simply = build, erect.)

bTo serve as the base or foundation of.

2To build (an edifice, town, etc.) for the first time; to begin the building of, be the first builder of.

3afig. To set up or establish for the first time (an institution, etc.), esp. with provision for its perpetual maintenance; to originate, create, initiate (something which continues to exist thenceforward).

†bTo endow, make provision for the maintenance of (persons who are to perform certain functions). Obs.

4aTo set or establish (something immaterial) on a firm basis; to give a basis or firm support to; to construct as on a ground or underlying reason or principle; to base, ground. Const. on, upon.

bconst. in.

†cwith obj. a person: To establish in a firm position (in controversy, etc.); to ground in (a subject of instruction, etc.); also refl. to take one's stand upon (a ground for argument, etc.). Obs.

dOf a thing: To serve as, or furnish, a basis or ground for.

eintr. (for refl.: cf. 4 c). To base oneself or one's opinion, to base itself, to be based (on, upon). Chiefly Sc.

†5To fasten or attach to. Also fig. Obs.

Webster's

verb3

intransitive verb

1to take the first steps or measures in building : build for the first time

2to lay the base or foundation of : set on something solid for support

3to establish (as an institution) often with provision for future maintenance : ORIGINATE, INITIATE

4ato establish on a firm basis : fix firmly

bto serve as a basis for

founder, noun

OED

noun2

1a'One who raises an edifice; one who presides at the erection of a city' (J.).

†bA maker or creator. Obs.

2One who sets up or institutes for the first time; one who gives its first beginning to (an institution, sect, etc.). Formerly in wider use, an originator (of a practice or custom).

3One who founds or establishes (an institution) with an endowment for its perpetual maintenance.

†4One who supports or maintains another. Obs.

5founder member, a person belonging to or associated with the founding of a society or institution;

Webster's

noun1

one that founds, establishes, or builds

hope, noun

OED

1aExpectation of something desired; desire combined with expectation.

bConst. of (that which is hoped for), or with clause introduced by that, or (arch.) with inf.

cIn plural; often in singular sense, esp. in phr. in hopes. Const. as in b.

dPersonified; esp. as one of the three heavenly Graces. (1 Cor. xiii. 13.)

2Feeling of trust or confidence. Obs. exc. as biblical archaism, with mixture of sense 1.

†3Expectation (without implication of desire, or of a thing not desired); prospect. Obs.

4atransf. Ground of hope; promise. Freq. in negative in phr. not a hope (in hell). Also used ironically for: an expectation which has little or no chance of being fulfilled; esp. in ints., usu. expressing resignation, some hope(s)!, what a hope!

bA person or thing that gives hope or promise for the future, or in which hopes are centred.

cAn object of hope; that which is hoped for.

See also forlorn hope.

5aComb. chiefly objective and instrumental.

bSpecial comb. hope chest chiefly U.S., a chest or box in which a young woman hopefully collects articles towards a home of her own in the event of her marriage; cf. bottom drawer BOTTOM n. 19.

Webster's

1archaic : TRUST, RELIANCE <all my hope is in the Lord>

2adesire accompanied with expectation of obtaining what is desired or belief that it is obtainable <wished but not with hope — John Milton> <all hope is dead> <are in hopes of an early recovery>

bone on whom hopes are centered <the team's only hope for victory>

ca source of hopeful expectation : PROMISE <viewed America as the land of hope>

dsomething that is hoped for : an object of hope <the arrival of reinforcements was their last forlorn hope> <a healthy family is the hope...of every homemaker — Mary S. Switzer>

inspire, verb

OED

I. Literal (physical) senses.

1atrans. To breathe or blow upon or into. Obs. or arch.

†bintr. To breathe or blow. Obs.

†2atrans. To blow or breathe (air, etc.) upon or into. (In quot. 1536, To ‘breathe’, utter.) Obs.

bTo breathe (life, a soul, etc.) in or into. (Cf. Gen. ii. 7.) In later use, fig.

†cTo produce by blowing or breathing. Obs.

3atrans. To breathe in, take into the lungs by breathing, inhale. (Opp. to expire 1.)

bintr. or absol. To draw in the breath.

II. Figurative senses.

4trans. To infuse some thought or feeling into (a person, etc.), as if by breathing; to animate or actuate by some mental or spiritual influence.

aspec. (Theol., etc.) Said of God or the Holy Spirit, or of a divinity or supernatural being: To influence or actuate by special divine or supernatural agency; used esp. in reference to the prophets, apostles, and Scripture writers

bgen. To influence, animate, or actuate (a person) with a feeling, idea, impulse, etc.

cSaid of the feeling, influence, etc.

5To ‘breathe in’ or infuse (a feeling, thought, principle, etc.) into the mind or soul. Const. †to (obs.), in, into.

aspec. Of a divine or supernatural being: To impart, communicate, or suggest by special divine or supernatural agency; used esp. in reference to the utterances of prophets and apostles, and the writings of Scripture

bgen. To infuse (something) into the mind; to kindle, arouse, awaken in the mind or heart (a feeling, idea, impulse, purpose, etc.).

6absol. (from 4 or 5).

7transf. (from 4 and 5: cf. 1647 in 4b). trans. To suggest or prompt the utterance of particular views or information on some public matter, or to prompt a speaker or writer to such utterance.

Webster's

transitive verb

1aarchaic : to breathe or blow into or upon

barchaic : to infuse (as life) by breathing

cobsolete : to breathe or blow (as air or vapor) into or upon something

2to draw in by breathing : breathe in : INHALE

3a:to influence, move, or guide (as to speech or action) through divine or supernatural agency or power

bto have an animating, enlivening, or exalting effect upon especially in a degree or with a result suggestive of the workings of some extraordinary power or influence — often used with with; specifically : to stimulate to creative activity in an art

cENCOURAGE, IMPEL, MOTIVATE — usually used with

dAFFECT — usually used with with

4ato communicate or impart (as an utterance) to an agent through divine or supernatural power

bto infuse or introduce into the mind or communicate to the spirit : AROUSE, PROVOKE

5ato bring about : OCCASION, PRODUCE

bINCITE, FOMENT

6to cause to be said or written by influence and without acknowledgment of actual source or authorship

mean, verb

OED

1atrans. To have in mind as a purpose or intention; to purpose, design. Chiefly with inf. as obj., less frequently with clause or n.

In modern colloquial use sometimes: To intend with determined purpose.

†bwith ellipsis of vb. of motion. Obs.

†cTo aim at, direct one's way to. Obs. rare.

dTo design (a thing) for a definite purpose; to intend or destine (a person or thing) to a fate or use. Const. against, for, †to; rarely dat. †Also with complement, to destine to be (obs.).

eTo intend (a remark, allusion, etc.) to have a particular reference. Const. †at, †by, of, †to. Also †absol. to mean by = to intend to refer to.

In the 16th c. to mean (a remark or a designation) by (a person) was the usual expression where we now say 'to mean (such or such a person) by (a remark, etc.)'', the vb. being then in sense 2.

fintr. To be (well, ill, etc.) intentioned or disposed. Const. to, by, or dat. to mean well (used ironically).

gyou don't mean to say (or to tell me), etc. (with following clause referring to the person addressed): expressing the speaker's surprise or scepticism at the conclusion in the following clause. Also with other speech act verbs. do you mean to say (or to tell me) used similarly, but inviting confirmation more strongly. colloq.

hI mean to say used parenthetically or as an exclamation, usu. to emphasize the speaker's sincerity or concern. Brit. colloq.

2atrans. To intend to indicate (a certain object), or to convey (a certain sense) when using some word, sentence, significant action, etc. Sometimes with clause as obj. In mod. use often const. by.

btransf. in questions of the form what does (a person) mean (by certain conduct)? i.e. 'what motive or justification has he for it?'

c(if) you know, see, understand, what I mean, i.e. 'have I made it clear?'

dTo be in earnest in saying; esp. in to mean what one says, to speak truthfully, sincerely, or with determination; to mean it, to be in earnest regarding one's words or (transf.) actions.

eThe phr. I mean used parenthetically in speech has in some cases lost the function of introducing an explanation or expansion of what has already been said, and become a conversational filler.

3aOf things, words, statements: To have a certain signification; to signify or import; to portend.

bOf a person or thing: to be of some account or importance, to 'matter' to (someone); to be a source of benefit, or an object of regard, affection, or love to (someone).

cpass. To be destined (by providence); to have special significance.

dTo require, entail, necessitate; to produce as an effect or result.

†4atrans. To have in mind, to remember. Obs.

†brefl. and intr. Const. of, on, upon. Obs.

†cimpers. me meaneth = I remember. Const. of, on. Obs.

†5intr. To hold or entertain an opinion; to think, imagine. Obs.

†6atrans. To say, tell, mention. Obs.

bintr. (rarely refl.) To speak, tell. Chiefly const. of, on, Sc. and north. by. Cf. 1 e absol. Obs.

7Comb.: †mean-nothing, a meaningless, insincere phrase.

Webster's

transitive verb

1to have in the mind especially as a purpose or intention : PURPOSE, DESIGN, INTEND <houses are meant for use> <means to make it difficult for you> <meant to come home early>

2to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : SIGNIFY, DENOTE, EXPRESS <what do you mean by such conduct> <these words mean nothing to me>

3to have significance or importance to the extent or degree of : count for <health means everything> <a happy home means much to a child> <music means little to me> <success without recognition means nothing to him> <her happiness meant the world to him>

4to intend for or direct to a particular individual <his criticism is meant for all of us> <do you mean this for me>

intransitive verb

1to have an intended purpose — used chiefly with well or ill <meant well but seldom carried anything to a conclusion>

2obsolete : TALK, SPEAK, TELL

3obsolete : to hold an opinion : THINK

monstrous, adjective

OED

†1aOf things, material and immaterial: Deviating from the natural order; unnatural. Obs.

†bOf persons: Strange or unnatural in conduct or disposition. Obs.

2aOf animals and plants: Abnormally formed; deviating congenitally from the normal type; malformed.

†bsaid of human beings. Obs.

3aHaving the nature or appearance of a monster

bAbounding in monsters. ? Obs.

4aOf unnaturally or extraordinarily huge dimensions; gigantic; immense; enormous.

bof immaterial things.

†cExcessively difficult. Obs. nonce-use.

5With emotional sense, expressing indignation or wondering contempt: Outrageously wrong or absurd.

6Like or befitting a ‘monster’ of wickedness; atrocious, horrible.

†7As an exclamation, in the sense ‘greatly to be marvelled at’, ‘astounding’. Obs.

†8aUsed as a colloquial or affected intensive. Obs. Cf. 4.

bquasi-adv. in the sense: Exceedingly, wonderfully, ‘mighty’. Now mainly U.S.

9Comb., as †monstrous-kinded adj.; monstrous craws, a form of elephantiasis common in the West Indies; monstrous pippin, rennet, large kinds of apple.

Webster's

1obsolete : STRANGE, UNNATURAL

2having extraordinary often overwhelming size : unusually and often unpleasantly big : HUGE, GIGANTIC, MAMMOTH

3ahaving the qualities or appearance of a monster

bobsolete : teeming with monsters

4aextraordinary because of ugliness or viciousness : ATROCIOUS, HORRIBLE

bshockingly wrong or ridiculous

5deviating greatly from the natural form or character : ABNORMAL, MALFORMED

6very great — used as an intensive

mulatto, noun (and adjective)

OED

Anoun

1One who is the offspring of a European and a Black; also used loosely for anyone of mixed race resembling a mulatto.

†2(see quot.) Obs.

3Geol. The greenstone of Northern Ireland.

4attrib. and Comb., as mulatto-like adj.; mulatto-clay U.S., a dark-coloured clay; mulatto jack, a term for yellow fever (Syd. Soc. Lex. 1891); mulatto land, -soil U.S., a dark coloured fertile kind of soil; mulatto loam, mould = mulatto land; mulatto prairie, a prairie of mulatto-soil; mulatto tree (see quot.).

Badjective

1Belonging to the class of mulattos.

2Of the colour of a mulatto; tawny.

Webster's

Anoun

1the first-generation offspring of a Negro and a white

2a person of mixed Caucasian and Negro ancestry

Badjective

1of or relating to a mulatto; especially : having the color of a mulatto

2South : composed of or characterized by brown clay <mulatto soil> <mulatto land>

natural, adjective

OED

I. Of law or justice.

1Based upon the innate moral feeling of mankind; instinctively felt to be right and fair, though not prescribed by any enactment or formal compact. Esp. in phr. natural law: in political and legal philosophy and theology, doctrines based on the theory that there are certain unchanging laws which pertain to man's nature, which can be discovered by reason, and to which man-made laws should conform; freq. contrasted with positive laws; also (with hyphen) attrib.

2 Constituted by nature; having a basis in the normal constitution of things.

aOf periods of time, esp. natural day, natural year

bOf quantities, numbers, measures, etc. natural logarithm. natural number, one without fractions; also, an actual number as distinguished from a logarithm. natural sine, etc., one taken in an arc whose radius is 1.

cMus. Of notes, keys, harmony, etc. Also of wind instruments, as natural trumpet

dOf sciences, or methods of combination, arrangement, classification, etc.

eBot. Applied spec. to the arrangement of plants originated by Jussieu, in contrast to the sexual system of Linnæus, and to the orders, families, etc. resulting from this division. Also Zool., applied to systems of classification based on the characteristics of the animals concerned, and the groups resulting from a classification of this type.

fnatural order, the order apparent in the constitution of matter and operation of forces in nature.

gnatural selection: see selection 3b. Hence natural selectionist, a supporter of the theory of natural selection.

hnatural deduction: in Logic, the name given to a method devised separately in 1934 by G. Gentzen (1935 Math. Zeitschrift XXXIX) and S. Jaśkowski (1934 Studia Logica I) whereby formal proofs are obtained solely by the application of rules of inference without appeal to axioms.

3anatural magic.

bTaking place in conformity with the ordinary course of nature; not unusual, marvellous, or miraculous.

cHaving a usual or normal character (†or constitution); not exceptional in any way.

dOf death: Happening in the course of nature, as the result of age or disease, as opposed to one brought about by accident, violence, poison, etc. Esp. in phr. natural causes.

enatural childbirth, methods of relaxation and of physical co-operation with the natural process of childbirth, first advocated by G. D. Read in 1933; now applied more generally to childbirth with minimal medical or technological intervention; also attrib.

4aIn a state of nature, without spiritual enlightenment; unenlightened, unregenerate.

bnatural religion

cnatural theology, theology based upon reasoning from natural facts apart from revelation. Hence natural theologian.

dHaving only the wisdom given by nature; not educated by study. rare.

5aHaving a real or physical existence, as opposed to what is spiritual, intellectual, fictitious, etc.

bPertaining to, operating or taking place in, the physical (as opposed to the spiritual) world.

6aExisting in, or formed by, nature; consisting of objects of this kind; not artificially made, formed, or constructed.

bOf substances or articles: Not made, manufactured, or obtained by artificial processes. Also sometimes applied to simple products in contrast to those requiring more elaborate preparation. spec. in phrs. natural foundation (see quots. 1906, 1963); natural gas (orig. N. Amer.), inflammable gas occurring underground, consisting chiefly of methane and other simple paraffins and often found associated with petroleum; natural glass, any of various naturally occurring substances which resemble glass in appearance, having solidified too quickly to crystallize.

cOf things in some way or other connected with persons. Also natural wig, one made of human hair.

dOf vegetation: Growing of itself; self-sown or planted; not introduced artificially. Also of land: Not cultivated. Esp. in Forestry: natural regeneration, the growth of young trees from seed of those already established.

eSpecial collocations: natural area (see quot. 1964); natural break; natural cement: a cement obtained by calcining naturally occurring argillaceous limestone; natural food; natural language: any naturally evolved language, as opposed to artificial languages constructed (a) for universal or international communications, or (b) for formal logical or mathematical purposes; natural region: each of a number of regions of the earth's surface characterized by a certain uniformity and individuality of character; natural resources; natural seasoning = air-seasoning vbl. n.

7aClosely imitating nature; life-like, exact.

bHaving the ease or simplicity of nature; free from affectation, artificiality, or constraint; simple, unaffected, easy.

cHaving the normal form; not disfigured or disguised in any way.

dActing in accordance with one's real character; free from disguise.

eU.S. Wild, savage.

II.

8aImplanted, existing, or present, by nature; inherent in the very constitution of a person or thing; innate; not acquired or assumed.

bnatural parts, native ability, apart from learning. ? Obs.

cnatural right(s), in Western political philosophy, esp. since the 18th century, doctrines derived from concepts of the nature of man and the relationship of the individual to the state whereby certain rights are formulated which the state ought to safeguard.

dnatural frequency, the frequency at which a mechanical or electrical system oscillates when not subjected to any external forces.

9aNormally or essentially connected with, or pertaining to, a person or thing; consonant with the nature or character of the person or thing.

bnatural life, used chiefly (and now only) with reference to the duration of this.

cNaturally pertaining or attached to a person or thing; coming easily or spontaneously to one. Hence to come natural to, to be a natural action for (one).

†dNaturally adapted for, or applicable to, something. Obs. rare.

eNaturally arising or resulting from, fully consonant with, the circumstances of the case.

10aStanding in a specified relationship to another person or thing by reason of the nature of things or force of circumstances.

†bHaving a certain relative status by birth; natural-born. Obs.

†11Native (country or language). Obs.

12anatural spirit: in Old Med., that one of the three spirits which was held to be produced in the liver and pass thence to the heart (see quots.). Now Hist.

†bnatural parts or natural places, the genitals, the privy members. Obs.

†cnatural line: in palmistry

III.

13aOf children: Actually begotten by one (in contrast to adopted, etc.), and especially in lawful wedlock; hence freq. = legitimate. Obs.

†bSimilarly of other relationships (esp. natural father or natural brother) in which there is actual consanguinity or kinship by descent. Obs.

cIn later use denoting a mere blood-kinship not legally recognized; hence, illegitimate, bastard.

14anatural fool: one who is by nature deficient in intelligence; a fool or simpleton by birth. †So natural idiot. (Cf. natural n. 2.)

bHaving a specified character by nature.

†15aNative to a country; native-born. Obs.

†bFreq. with national names, as natural Englishmen, etc. Also of words. Obs.

†cConst. of a place. Obs.

16aFeeling or exhibiting natural kindliness, affection, †or gratitude; having natural feeling. Now rare.

†bConst. to or towards a person, etc. Obs.

†17Sc. Possessed of natural ability. Obs. rare.

IV.

18aDealing or concerned with, relating to, nature as an object of study or research; now usual only in natural science(s); hence natural-scientific adj. †natural story = natural history.

bnatural philosophy, the study of natural bodies as such and of the phenomena connected with them; physical science, physics.

cGiven to the study of natural science; esp. natural philosopher, one devoted to, or skilled in, natural philosophy. Also natural scientist.

19Of wool, cotton, silk, etc.: having a colour characteristic of the natural state when unbleached and undyed. Also natural-coloured adj. Hence as n. to denote a shade of off-white or creamy beige.

20natural shoulder U.S. Freq. attrib.

Webster's

1based upon the innate moral feeling or inherent sense of right and wrong held to characterize mankind

2ain accordance with or determined by nature : based upon the operations of the physical world

bhaving or constituting a classification or other method of arrangement based on features existing in nature

3achiefly dialect (1) : begotten as distinguished from adopted; especially : begotten in wedlock : LEGITIMATE (2) : being a relation by actual consanguinity or kinship by descent as distinguished from adoption

b(1) : born out of wedlock; specifically : ILLEGITIMATE (2) : being a relation by consanguinity as opposed to a legally recognized relationship

4having an essential relationship with someone or something : possessing a normal connection with someone or something : consonant with the nature or character of someone or something

5implanted or held to be implanted by nature : existing or present from birth : being part of the constitution of a person : not acquired : INBORN, INNATE

6of, relating to, or concerned with nature as an object of study and research

7having a specified character by nature <natural fool> <natural idiot> <natural pacer> <a natural leader>

8<natural magic>

9aoccurring in conformity with the ordinary course of nature : not supernatural, marvelous, or miraculous

bhaving a normal or usual character : not exceptional

10having a relationship with something by reason of the conditions, events, or circumstances of the case or in line with normal experience

11characterized by qualities (as warm and genuine feelings, affection, or gratitude) held to be part of the nature of man

12obsolete : NATURAL-BORN <natural subjects>

13aplanted or growing by itself : not cultivated or introduced artificially <natural grass>

bexisting in or produced by nature : consisting of objects so existing or produced : not artificial (as in form or construction)

14abeing in a state of nature without spiritual enlightenment : UNREGENERATE

bliving in or as if in a state of nature untouched by the influences of civilization and society

15ahaving a physical or real existence as contrasted with one that is spiritual, intellectual, or psychical

bof, relating to, or operating in the physical as opposed to the spiritual world

16obsolete : NATIVE-BORN

17aclosely resembling the object imitated : true to nature : according to life

bhaving the ease or simplicity of nature : free from artificiality, affectation, or constraint : springing from true sentiment : EASY, SIMPLE

chaving a form or appearance found in nature <natural hair>

18ahaving neither flats nor sharps — used of a key or scale in music <the natural scale of C major>

bbeing neither sharped nor flatted — used of a musical note or tone

chaving the pitch as indicated in musical notation modified by the natural (sense 7a)

dproduced without aid of stops, valves, slides, or other supplementary devices — used of a harmonic or tone from a wind and stringed instrument

enot falsetto — used of a man's singing voice

19anot being the joker or a wild card — used of a playing card

bcontaining no wild card — used of a combination of cards

20of the color natural

recognize, verb

OED

verb1

†1trans. Sc. Law. = recognosce v. 4. Obs.

†2aTo look over again; to revise, correct, amend. Obs.

†bTo reconnoitre. Also absol. Obs. rare.

†cTo go over again, to expound. Obs.—1

†3aTo acknowledge by admission, confession, or avowal; to admit (to oneself or another). Obs.

†bConst. that or with inf., expressing the fact acknowledged. Obs. (common in 16th c.).

†cConst. for. Obs.—1

4aTo acknowledge by special notice, approval or sanction; to treat as valid, as having existence or as entitled to consideration; to take notice of (a thing or person) in some way. †Also const. to. Also absol.

bspec. in U.S. (see quot.).

cTo admit to consideration, or to a status, as being something.

5aTo know again; to perceive to be identical with something previously known.

bTo know by means of some distinctive feature; to identify from knowledge of appearance or character.

cTo perceive clearly, realize.

†6a[Cf. v.2] To know again or further. Obs.—1

†bTo mark or distinguish again. Obs.—1

7aLaw. U.S. refl. and intr. To enter into a recognizance.

btrans. To bind over by a recognizance. ? Obs.

Webster's

transitive verb

1obsolete

ato admit the fact, truth, or validity of

bREVISE, CORRECT

2ato recall knowledge of : make out as or perceive to be something previously known

bto perceive clearly : be fully aware of : REALIZE

3to acknowledge formally: as

ato admit as being of a particular status

bto admit as being one entitled to be heard (as in a meeting) : give the floor to

c(1). to acknowledge the de facto existence of (as a government in a state) (2). to acknowledge the independence of (as a community or body that has thrown off the sovereignty of a state to which it was subject) and treat as independent or as otherwise effective

4to acknowledge in some definite way : take notice of: as

ato acknowledge with a show of approval or appreciation

bto acknowledge acquaintance with

cto admit the fact or existence of

5to bind by a recognizance

intransitive verb

to enter into an obligation of record before a tribunal

woman, noun

OED

I.1aAn adult female human being. (The context may or may not have special reference to sex or to adult age: cf. man n.1 4 a, c, d.)

man or (or and) woman used appositionally = male or (and) female.

bGenerically without article: The female human being; the female part of the human race, the female sex. Hence gen. woman's = womanly, female, feminine.

cpl. in pregnant use with reference to (irregular) intercourse with women.

dAs a mode of address. (Cf. man n.1 4 e.) Now (except dial. and in renderings of foreign modes of speech) used chiefly derogatorily or jocularly.

eWith allusion to qualities conventionally attributed to the female sex, as mutability, capriciousness, proneness to tears; also to their traditional consignment to a position of inferiority or subjection (phr. to make a woman of, to bring into submission).

f(Now always with the.) The essential qualities of a woman; womanly characteristics; that which makes a woman what she is; womanliness; occas. the feminine side or aspect; †predicatively = feminine, womanish.

†gone's own woman: mistress of oneself, independent. (After man n.1 4l.) Obs.

hIn contrast, explicit or implicit, with ‘lady’ (see lady n. 4).

iWith qualification denoting status, occupation, or character, woman enters into many compounds or collocations more or less permanent, corresponding to those of man (man n.1 4 p) but much less numerous: see the various qualifying words and bondwoman, charwoman, countrywoman, gentlewoman, horsewoman, man-woman, needlewoman, old woman, tire-woman, townswoman, wise woman, young woman, etc.

woman bond, nonce-inversion of bondwoman. first woman = prima donna. little woman: a female child, girl (cf. little man, man n.1 4 f); also, an affectionate or playful form of address to a girl or young woman, esp. one in whom womanly qualities are conspicuous. new woman: a woman of ‘advanced’ views, advocating the independence of her sex and defying convention; hence new-womandom, new-womanish adj.

jIn phraseological collocations corresp. to those s.v. man n.1 18, as woman of all work, business, colour, fashion, honour, letters, livelihood, pleasure, the people, property, sense, the town, the world: see also these ns. woman about town: see town n. 8 b; woman in the street: see street n. 3 h; woman-to-woman: cf. man n.1 4 h.

†kIn the 16th and 17th centuries freq. with play on a pseudo-etymological association with woe; also, less freq., between weemen (= women) and we men. Obs.

lProverbs.

mhell hath no fury like a woman scorned and var. (see scorn v. 3 a, quot. 1697). Hence woman scorned, used allusively; also as attrib. phr.

2A female servant, esp. a lady's maid or personal attendant. Often pl. (†also = womenfolk).

3†a.I.3.a A lady-love, mistress. Obs. b.I.3.b A kept mistress, paramour.

4aA wife. Now only dial. and U.S.

Cf. old woman 1b and the corresp. use of man (man n.1 8).

†bThe female mate of an animal. Obs. rare.

5The reverse of a coin; in reference to the figure of Britannia (q.v.) upon it. (Cf. man n.1 17.)

II. attrib. and Comb.

6aSimple attrib. = ‘of or characteristic of a woman or women, feminine, womanly’: woman-city, woman-eye, woman-flesh, woman-godhead, woman-haunt, woman-luck, etc.

bappos. (a) = ‘female’, esp. with designations of occupation or profession: woman doctor, woman driver, woman-help, woman journalist, woman officer, woman p.c., woman police officer, woman-savage, woman teacher, etc. †(b) = ‘having the character of a woman, feminine, womanly; effeminate’. Obs. (c) With names of animals, forming designations of creatures having the qualities or properties of a woman and of the particular animal.

cobjective, as woman-follower, woman-killer, †woman-queller, woman-scorner, woman-slayer, woman-spiter, woman-worship, woman-worshipper, woman-wronger; also woman-bearing, woman-churching, woman-degrading, woman-despising, woman-flogging, woman-murdering, †woman-quelling, woman-worshipping, adjs.; woman-hating adj. and n.; similative and parasynthetic, as woman breasted, woman-faced, woman-fair, woman-headed, woman-hearted, woman-proud, woman-vested adjs.; instrumental, as woman-bred, woman-built, woman-conquered, woman-daunted, woman-governed, woman-made, woman-ridden, woman-tended adjs.

7Special comb.: †woman-actor, (a) an actress; (b) an actor who takes women's parts; woman-boat = women's boat (10); woman-body dial., a person of the female sex, woman; woman-born a., born of woman; woman-dangler, one who dangles after women; †woman-errant, one who goes after women; woman-grown a., that has become a woman; woman-hour, an hour's work done by a woman; †woman-house Sc., a laundry: see also women-house (9 c); †woman-keeper, a female nurse; †woman-louper Sc., a whoremonger; woman-mad a., mad after women; woman-man, an effeminate man, or one who in some way resembles a woman; woman-market, a place for the sale (lit. or fig.) of women; woman-movement, the movement for the emancipation of women, or the recognition and extension of women's rights; woman-palaver African, illicit commerce with a woman or women; woman-physician, (a) a woman's doctor; (b) a woman-doctor; woman-post, a female messenger or courier; woman-power, (a) the exercise of authority by women; (b) the number of women available for work; the power of women in work; woman question, a controversy over the rights of women, esp. that in the nineteenth century; woman-raving a. = woman-mad; †woman-reputation, reputation with women; †woman-shoemaker, a maker of women's shoes; woman-slaughter, the killing of a woman by a human being; woman-suffrage, the right of women to vote in public affairs; hence woman-suffragist, an advocate of woman-suffrage; †woman-surgeon, one who beautifies women by the aid of paints, washes, etc.; †woman-tired a. [tire v.2 2], hen-pecked; woman trouble colloq., (a) U.S., gynæcological problems (cf. trouble n. 4); (b) difficulties caused to a man by a relationship with a woman or women; †(on) woman-ways, -wise advs., after the manner of a woman or women; woman-year, a year of a woman's life; esp. used as a cumulative measure in medical tests carried out on a number of different women.

8Comb. with woman's, as woman's †poet, woman's tailor; woman's boat = women's boat (see 10); woman's magazine, a magazine designed primarily for women; also (colloq.) woman's mag; freq. attrib., esp. alluding to superficiality or stereotypical attitudes regarded as associated with such productions; woman's man, a lady's man, a gallant; †woman's-meadwort = meadwort 2; woman's movement = woman-movement, sense 7 above; woman's page, a page of a newspaper devoted to topics intended to be of special interest to women; woman's woman, a woman whose qualities are appreciated by other women, a woman who is popular with other women (cf. man's man s.v. man n.1 21); woman's work, work traditionally undertaken by women.

9Comb. with women:

aappos., serving as plurals of combs. with woman (see 6b, 7): women doctors, women drivers, women friends, women journalists, women ministers, women priests, women professors, women students,etc.

bobjective, etc. synonymous with the corresp. combs. with woman (see 6c, 7).

cSpecial comb.: women-house Sc., a building set apart for women only; women liberators, women's liberationists (see sense 10 below); †women-matters pl., matters relating to women; women-men pl. (see woman-man, 7); womenpower, = woman-power, sense 7 above; †women-sleepers pl., female nurses (cf. woman-keeper in sense 7); †women-strikers pl. [striker n. 2 d], prostitutes; women-suffrage = woman-suffrage (see 7); women-wise adv., in the fashion or way of women; women-years, pl. of woman-year, sense 7 above.

10Comb. with women's: women's-boat, a boat to be used by women only = umiak; women's college, a university college that admits only women as students; women's courses, †evil = catamenia; women's group, a group formed for the discussion or furtherance of the interests of women; Women's Institute, an organization of women in rural areas who meet regularly and engage in various social and cultural activities; †women's-kins, of the female sex; women's liberation, the liberation of women from subservient social status and all forms of sexism; also (usu. with cap. initial) a militant movement with these aims; also abbrev. as women's lib (cf. lib); hence women's libber [libber], liberationist; women's magazine = woman's magazine, sense 8 above; similarly women's mag; women's men, pl. of woman's man (see 8); women's movement, (a) = woman-movement s.v. woman n. 7; (b) the women's liberation movement (see above); women's page = woman's page, sense 8 above; women's room U.S. = ladies s.v. lady n. 4 f; Women's Rural Institute: see rural a. 6; women's studies orig. U.S., academic studies concerning women, their role in society, etc.; women's suffrage = woman-suffrage (see 7); women's wear, clothing for women; women's work = woman's work, sense 8 above.

Additions 1993Add: [I.] [2.]I.2 b.I.2.b colloq. A hired charwoman or domestic cleaning woman. Cf. daily n. 3. Usu. with preceding possessive pronoun.

Draft partial entry June 2004orig. Naut.women and children first: (on a ship in difficulty) indicating that women and children should be allowed on to the lifeboats before men; (hence allusively) warning of any kind of risky or unpleasant situation from which escape is desirable (chiefly humorous).

Draft partial entry July 2008woman of the bedchamber n. Brit. a woman who attends to the queen or queen mother (cf. lady of the bedchamber n. at lady n. Phrases 1b(c)).

Webster's

1a(1) a female human being — distinguished from man (2) an adult female human being — distinguished from girl (3) a female human being as such and without regard to any special status (as of birth, position, or office) (4) a female human being of a class or character lower than that normally considered a lady

ba female human being belonging to a particular and usually specific category (as by birth, residence, or membership) — usually used in combination — compare MAN 2b

c(1) chiefly dialect : WIFE (2) MISTRESS 6a (3) women plural : human females as partners in sexual intercourse or irregularities

d(1) one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of womanhood (as gentleness, affection, and domesticity or on the other hand fickleness, superficiality, and folly) (2) : womanly character or quality : WOMANLINESS

2the female part of the human race : female human beings especially when viewed as a natural kind or personified as an individual : WOMANKIND

3a human female that serves or is subordinate to another ; especially : one that is the personal maid of another